Hey News-Changers! In case you missed it, some pretty big immigration policy changes went into effect this week. The US is now restricting visas from Myanmar, Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan and Eritrea, and applying new income-based requirements for all immigrants. This has the potential to reshape the immigration system dramatically, so stay tuned for updates.

Hey News-Changers! In case you missed it, some pretty big immigration policy changes went into effect this week. The US is now restricting visas from Myanmar, Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan and Eritrea, and applying new income-based requirements for all immigrants. This has the potential to reshape the immigration system dramatically, so stay tuned for updates.

Keep scrolling to read the latest on the coronavirus outbreak (like what a pandemic would mean for us), how family and friends honored Kobe Bryant, and some wins for voter turnout in the primary elections.

As Coronavirus Spreads, So Does Misinformation -- Here’s What You Need to Know

We’ve talked about the coronavirus (now known as COVID-19) in The Breakdown before, so check that out for some quick background on the virus. There have been some updates on the situation since then (and a lot of misinformation too), so here’s the latest.

What’s the Scope?

Right now, there have been about 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,700 confirmed deaths worldwide (that’s a mortality rate of about 3%). South Korea, Japan, and Italy are facing the largest outbreaks outside of mainland China, with cases in the hundreds.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) point out, concerns are less about deadliness and more about the impact of thousands of people getting sick at the same time. It has the potential to overload public healthcare systems, cause absenteeism at schools and workplaces, and (in the most severe cases) affect infrastructure like law enforcement, emergency medical services, and public transportation.

Please don’t! Like Messonnier said, we still don’t know the future scope and severity of COVID-19 in the US, and any predictions we make right now would be educated guesses at best. So what we’re not going to do is freak out preemptively -- because we’ve seen how dangerous that’s been in other countries.

In Ukraine, a viral fake email about coronavirus risk led to violent and destructive protests over an issue that didn’t even exist (because there are zero active COVID-19 cases in Ukraine). Similar panic also happened in India over fake coronavirus news. The virus may not kill someone, but this kind of frenzied and misinformed behavior really could.

Take Action: Combat the spread of coronavirus misinformation. Direct your friends and family to WHO’s EPI-WIN project for mythbusters, advice, and info about COVID-19.

Artists, Athletes, Family, and Fans Honor Kobe and Gianna Bryant at Memorial Service

A memorial service was held at the Los Angeles Staples Center in honor of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who died in a helicopter crash along with seven others. Among the attendees were family, fans, and some famous friends of the late athlete.

Vanessa Bryant, delivered a powerful eulogy, remembering her husband and daughter and the relationships they shared. She also reflected on the things they wouldn’t get to experience, like Giana’s bright athletic future or Kobe’s wish to be a grandfather.

"When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died," Jordan said. "I will live with the memories of knowing that I had a little brother that I tried to help in every way I could."

Take Action: Kobe Bryant’s death shook communities around the globe. There’s no “right” way to process grief -- let your friends know that they can always reach out about their feelings, including 24/7 at the Crisis Text Line.

Nevada Caucuses See Boost in Voters, Higher Turnout Also Expected in Texas

With the results from the Nevada Caucuses in the books, we have a clear picture of the state’s voter turnout. About 16,000 more
Nevadans attended the caucuses this year compared to the 2016 presidential primary, and a majority of caucus-goers were doing so for the first time.

This increase may be partly due to the state’s new early voting process (the first in Nevada history). After all, the number of people who voted early this year is almost as high as the number of people who voted at all in 2016.

The love for early voting continues in Texas, where the process is currently underway. So far, Texans are casting their early ballots at a higher rate than they did in 2016, and officials are expecting massive voter turnout on election day -- maybe even exceeding that of 2008.

Take Action: Everyone benefits from making their voice heard at the polls. Remind your friends to register to vote in the 2020 elections.